Houston football is gearing up to face the Kansas State Wildcats on Saturday, October 10, at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. After a narrow 24-19 defeat in the 2024 season, the Wildcats are itching for some redemption.
Kansas State’s got fresh leadership now. Former Texas A&M offensive coordinator Collin Klein has taken the reins, and his presence is already shaking things up.
Klein knows offense. At Texas A&M, he helped orchestrate one of the SEC’s top passing attacks—sixth overall, averaging 260 passing yards per game.
That’s no small feat, and it’s no wonder Kansas State fans are buzzing about what he’ll bring to Manhattan. The Wildcats’ offense was already solid, but Klein’s approach could take it up a notch.
Key Offensive Players
Senior quarterback Avery Johnson leads the charge. He racked up 2,385 passing yards and 18 touchdowns last season, with just six interceptions.
That kind of steady hand under center? You can’t overstate its value.
- Jerand Bradley and Jaron Tibbs: These portal pickups add real depth to the receiving group. They’re both big, physical targets who can create headaches for Big 12 corners.
- Joe Jackson: Back after a breakout sophomore year, Jackson rushed for 911 yards and found the end zone eight times. He’s slippery, tough, and just fun to watch.
With this crew, Kansas State’s offense has real bite. If they click, Houston’s defense could be in for a long afternoon.
Defensive Weaknesses and Concerns
Defense, though, is a different story for the Wildcats. Last season, they gave up 26.7 points per game—11th in the conference. Not exactly inspiring.
Defensive Additions
To patch things up, Kansas State dipped into the transfer portal for help.
- Wendell Gregory: Coming over from Oklahoma State, Gregory brings some real juice off the edge. Could he hit double-digit sacks? Maybe, if things break right.
- Ja’Son Prevard and Koy Beasley: Both safeties, both transfers, both needed. They add some much-needed experience to the secondary.
Still, the defense feels like a work in progress. It’s hard to shake the feeling that it might be Kansas State’s Achilles’ heel again.
Houston’s Defensive Challenges
Houston isn’t exactly solid in the secondary, either. Three of their former defensive backs are now chasing NFL dreams, which leaves some pretty green faces in the lineup.
Kansas State’s Air-Raid Offense
Kansas State loves to air it out. With Bradley and Tibbs in the mix, they’ve got the firepower to go deep and test any secondary—especially one as inexperienced as Houston’s.
It’s not hard to imagine the Wildcats’ passing attack overwhelming the Cougars. Whether they can pull it off? That’s the question everyone’s asking.
Conclusion
Kansas State’s offense, especially under Collin Klein, could be the spark they need against Houston. Avery Johnson brings experience at quarterback, and there are some new weapons on offense that might shake things up.
But let’s be honest, their defense? Still a bit of a question mark. Houston’s defense isn’t exactly rock solid either, so this game on October 10 could get interesting fast.
If you want to dig deeper, check out the full article on Kansas State Football’s Strengths, Weaknesses, & 1 Thing That Could Upset Houston.
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